Radial Arm Saw

What are the benefits of having one of these in your shop? I have a 12" dewalt sliding miter saw. I have never used a radial arm saw before, so I thought I would ask. Looks like mounting a dado blade you could use to make drawers and stuff pretty easy? If you have a radial arm saw, what do you like using it for? Thanks for any replies.

Jerrod , I agree with Robert in two ways , they can be used in many ways and they can be very dangerous !!!! If your interest is cutting dados and have a table saw ,this may be the way to go !!! And if you still want to get a ras be sure to check out all the sites and videos on how to use it safely !!! And not to scare you , but a few years back I cut one of my fingers about half way off , but the good news is that they sewed it back on and it still works, just not as good as it used to, so be sure to read and follow all the safety tips !!!!

Thanks everyone for your comments. They looked like if your arm slipped and you fell toward the saw you could be injured pretty bad because so much of blade can be exposed. I saw one on Craigslist for $150 and thought about getting one. I thought I could use it mainly for dado cuts because you could set it up with the blade and use it for that. I know it doesnt matter but I like to see the cut happening and cutting dado cuts on the table saw doesnt allow for that. Seems like changing out blades on table saw could get old.

I liked on the video that Robert shared that you can rip long stock but that guy needed to add some stuff to make it more safe. While I was watching the video guy was wearing gloves and I was like I wouldnt do that and was glad to see in the comments section that people were pointing that out. I think you could build some type of clamping section that holds the board tight against your working table but allows the board to move without the board jumping so much, it would keep pressure on the board a few inches before and after the blade.

Thanks for the helpful info Ken, I appreciate it. I like that stand. My work was remodeling a while back and I stock piled on the counter tops the were throwing out. Now I just have to build my workbench.

Hi, Jerrod, I've read all the comments posted,and agree with all the advice given. I'm now retiried,and have been a serious woodworker for some 40+ years. I have a radial arm saw too. I was a carpenter at 19,in the Seabees, in vietnam. The only power tool we had was a ras, which I used daily. I went to school to be a carpenter,and was trained on all kinds of power tools. I'm going to tell you something,please, don't take it the wrong way. I'm NOT talking down to you. Any ras can be dangerous. VERY dangerous !! I'ts one of the tools I ALWAYS approach with a lot of caution. Each time, every time. I love mine, but I'm experienced too. If the arbor is long enough, it will take a dado set. Most ras will crosscut about 12" and that's all. That means no long dados. While it's true you can rip cut, using a ras; I don't do it often. I use a table saw. Also it's a good idea to use a negative hook blade in both the ras and the sliding miter too. Gives you more controll, less chance of the saw to pull itself toward you, which will happen. Can't type anymore. Hope this helps. Good luck to ya !! Be careful. Dave

Any helpful advice I will take and try to incorporate it into my habits. Thanks for sharing. My background is in general contractor type work (never did it as a job, but have remodeled a few houses with friends and family through the years) and I have just never been able/wanting to build stuff until now. I have a couple kids and would like to build stuff for them and hopefully it will hold up and maybe pass it down to their kids if we are blessed for that to happen.